The '''British Isles''' are a group of islands northwest of Europe. Not all of these islands are British.

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The '''British Isles''' are a group of islands northwest of Europe. However, not all of these islands are British!

The largest island in the group is [[Great Britain]] which consists of the nations of [[England]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]].

The largest island in the group is [[Great Britain]] which consists of the nations of [[England]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]].

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Ireland is the second largest island in the group and is divided between the [[Republic of Ireland]], that is not part of the United Kingdom, and [[Northern Ireland]] which is.

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Ireland is the second largest island in the group (although this definition is not universally accepted) and is divided between the [[Republic of Ireland]], which is not part of the [[United Kingdom]], and [[Northern Ireland]] which is.

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The [[Isle of Man]] lies in the Irish Sea between the two main islands. The Channel Islands are British Crown Dependencies that are located to the south of [[Great Britain]] in the English Channel and are physically closer to [[France]].

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The [[Isle of Man]] lies in the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland.

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The term "British Isles" is used for convenience in grouping the following countries into one category: to inderstand this better see ''[http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/FHD/Community/The_National_Archives/What_Is_Britain_/Player.html What Is Britain?]'' a presentation by [http://www.apgen.org/directory/search_detail.html?mbr_id=4858 Audrey Collins], Records Specialist at [[England The National Archives|The National Archives]]. {{Wikipedia|Terminology of the British Isles}}

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The [[Channel Islands]] are Crown Dependencies and are located off the northern coast of France. This link goes back to the time of the Norman conquest of England.

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The term "British Isles" is used for convenience in grouping the following countries into one category: to understand this better see ''[http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/FHD/Community/The_National_Archives/What_Is_Britain_/Player.html What Is Britain?]'' a presentation by [http://www.apgen.org/directory/search_detail.html?mbr_id=4858 Audrey Collins], Records Specialist at [[England The National Archives|The National Archives]]. {{Wikipedia|Terminology of the British Isles}}

*[[England]]

*[[England]]

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*[[Ireland]]

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*[[Northern Ireland]]

*[[Scotland]]

*[[Scotland]]

*[[Wales]]

*[[Wales]]

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*[[Northern Ireland]]

*[[Isle of Man]]

*[[Isle of Man]]

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*[[Channel Islands]]

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*[[Channel Islands]]

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*[[Ireland]]

== Disagreement over the term ==

== Disagreement over the term ==

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*There is disagreement over the term "the British Isles", particularly with relation to [[Ireland]]. The term is defined in dictionaries as referring to [[Great Britain]], [[Ireland]] and adjacent islands. However, the modern association between the word "British" and the [[United Kingdom]] causes the term to be regarded as inappropriate by some and can be considered irritating or offensive by others.

*There is disagreement over the term "the British Isles", particularly with relation to [[Ireland]]. The term is defined in dictionaries as referring to [[Great Britain]], [[Ireland]] and adjacent islands. However, the modern association between the word "British" and the [[United Kingdom]] causes the term to be regarded as inappropriate by some and can be considered irritating or offensive by others.

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*Also, the name '''Britain''' comes from the Latin name for the island, Britannia, meaning "the land of the Britons", the Brythonic Celtic tribes who inhabited the island at that time. These tribes occupied only the main island of Britain and not the island of Ireland, known to the Romans as '''Hibernia'''.

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*Also, the name '''Britain''' comes from the Latin name for the island, Britannia, meaning "the land of the Britons", i.e. the '''Brythonic''' Celtic tribes who inhabited the island at that time. These tribes occupied only the main island of Britain and not the island of Ireland, known to the Romans as '''Hibernia''', which was occupied by '''Goidelic''' Celts. This make the inclusion of Ireland as historically incorrect!

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{{ featured article }}

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'''A wiki article describing an on-line collection is found at:'''

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{{wikipedia|British Isles naming dispute}}

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{{ featured article }}{{wikipedia|British Isles naming dispute}}

[[Category:British_Isles]]

[[Category:British_Isles]]

Revision as of 18:22, 17 August 2013

The British Isles are a group of islands northwest of Europe. However, not all of these islands are British!

Disagreement over the term

There is disagreement over the term "the British Isles", particularly with relation to Ireland. The term is defined in dictionaries as referring to Great Britain, Ireland and adjacent islands. However, the modern association between the word "British" and the United Kingdom causes the term to be regarded as inappropriate by some and can be considered irritating or offensive by others.

Also, the name Britain comes from the Latin name for the island, Britannia, meaning "the land of the Britons", i.e. the Brythonic Celtic tribes who inhabited the island at that time. These tribes occupied only the main island of Britain and not the island of Ireland, known to the Romans as Hibernia, which was occupied by Goidelic Celts. This make the inclusion of Ireland as historically incorrect!